Annociate Nimpagaritse

Annociate Nimpagaritse is being held in Dungavel detention centre in South Lanarkshire, awaiting deportation to Burundi. Please take urgent action now to help us get Annociate back to Sheffield where she belongs. This is her story.

Annociate is from the minority Tutsi ethnic group and was born in Bujumbura, the capital city. She says that various family members were killed by Hutus in 1993. Annociate says that in 2004 a number of armed men, who she believes to have been from the FNL (Forces nationals de liberation), a Hutu rebel group, shot and killed her parents at the family home. Annociate says that she and her siblings managed to escape from the house and fled to a refugee camp but she became separated from them and does not know their whereabouts. Annociate fled to the UK in 2005.

The immigration judge in Annociate's appeal accepted that "The conditions in the camp were appalling and there was little food to eat. The Appellant lived in the camp for a period of one year but constantly feared further attacks by Hutus. Her account was consistent with the objective material contained in the latest CIPU report [from the Home Office] on the Burundi."

However, the immigration judge refused Annociate's asylum claim. Annociate made a fresh claim April 2007 but this was also been rejected.

Annociate fears persecution on the basis of her ethnicity and gender, and her belief that she could not get protection from the government.

"I am terrified of what the Hutu FNL might do to me after killing my parents. Beside, the FNL have declared me as a wanted person in Burundi. I believe that some of its members, jealous of our family wealth, may have intentions to appropriate our house and other properties in Burundi and as a result would want to ensure that they eliminate every single one of us since my parents are already out of their way"
Annociate Nimpagaritse

In February 2008 Burundi was listed 5th on "The Index of State Weakness in the Developing World", developed by the Brookings Institute and the Centre for Global Development.

"The FCO [Foreign & Commonwealth Office] country profile for Burundi stated, "The human rights situation in Burundi remains poor, with widespread abuses committed by all parties, particularly in the rural areas surrounding the capital. Tens of thousands of people remain internally displaced. Killing of civilians, reprisal killings, torture, rape, theft, illegal and arbitrary detention, and forced labour have been reported. Rape and gang rape against women, girls and boys is on the increase. The judicial system has little capacity to act in timely and impartial manner, and impunity is pervasive … The USSD, Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005, 8 March 2006, noted that … The PALIPEHUTU-FNL [Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People/National Liberation Front] continued to commit numerous serious human rights abuses against civilians, including killings, indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, kidnappings, rapes, theft, extortion, the forcible recruitment and employment of children as soldiers, and the use of forced labor."
Home Office country report on Burundi, 14 March 2007.

Annociate is a young woman who is very vulnerable, traumatised by her past, and at great risk because she has no family or other support in the country.

"She [Annociate] suffers from post traumatic stress disorder"
Dr Lucy Manning, Central Health Clinic, Sheffield - letter dated 22/03/07

Annociate has been part of life in Sheffield as a member of St Marie's Cathedral Church, and the choir, Ephaphatha. She suffers from post traumatic stress after her experiences in Burundi, but has slowly been recovering with support from her counsellor and friends. She has gradually been able to get involved in the charity ASSIST, helping destitute asylum seekers in Sheffield.

Annociate was sent to back to Burundi on March 5th. The Burundian officials refused her entry because she did not have the right documents.

She was returned to Yarlswood Detention Centre and eventually released later in March, when she returned to Sheffield. She complied with all the Home Office requirements, and resumed her normal life, studying at College, singing in the choir at St Marie's Cathedral, helping the charitable work of Assist and meeting her boyfriend Aime. Their love for each other had been developing, and blossomed in this brief respite period. They got engaged.

Annociate found a new solicitor in Sheffield who put in a fresh claim for leave to remain in the UK. They also had to apply for permission from the Home Office to get married. They had to provide evidence concerning the genuineness of the relationship, so her Church gave their warm endorsement. A letter allowing the marriage was received by the solicitor, with the only requirement being they must get married within 3 months. She and Aime were delighted and started to make plans for the wedding. When Annociate went to the Registry Office she was refused because she didn't have an identity card or proof of her nationality. This had been taken from her when she was first deported. Despite frequent requests and her willingness to travel to the office in Liverpool, she was not granted the required interview so that her documents could be returned. On Thursday September 11th a further request was made by the Northern Refugee Centre requesting the early expedition of Annociate's new id card.

Annociate was arrested at 6.15am on the 12th September. Her solicitor received a letter to say that her fresh claim had been refused later the same day. At 4pm she was collected by the Border and Immigration Authority and taken to Manchester, and then to Dungavel, in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. We fear that she may be given flight directive very soon.

We are currently trying to contact the Friends of Dungavel group so they can visit Annociate, who will be terrified and so far away from her friends and supporters.

What you can do.
1.Please fax or e-mail Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration at the Home Office,asking that Annociate is allowed to stay in the UK. You can use the Model letter which you can copy/amend, or write your own version (in which case, please remember to include Annociate Nimpagaritse's Home Office ref. no. N1111367)

Fax: 020 8760 3132/ from outside UK+ 44 020 8760 3132

Please notify the campaign of any faxes sent:
Friends of Annociate Nimpagaritse
Contact : Graham Wroe at gswroe@yahoo.co.uk
Model Letter

Liam Byrne,


Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration
Home Office, 3rd Floor
Peel Building,
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF
Email: byrnel@parliament.uk

Dear Mr. Byrne,
Annociate Nimpagaritse - Home Office ref. no. N1111367, due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Thursday 25th September on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 from Heathrow @ 20:00hrs to Nairobi and KQ470 onwards to Bujumbura, Burundi.

I am writing to ask you to free Annociate Nimpagaritse, who is currently detained in Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre, Scotland, with removal directions for Thursday 25th September. She should not be deported to Burundi, as this could put her in great danger. It would also mean that she might never be able to be reunited with the man she loves and who loves her. I wish that she be allowed to stay in UK and marry her fiancé.

Annociate is from the minority Tutsi ethnic group in Burundi and was born in Bujumbura, the capital city. Hutus killed various family members in 1993. In 2004, armed men who she believes to have been from the FNL (Forces nationals de liberation), a Hutu rebel group, shot and killed her parents at the family home. Annociate and her siblings managed to escape from the house and fled to a refugee camp but she became separated from them and does not know their whereabouts. In the camp she was constantly in fear of discovery by FNL Hutus and in 2005 was helped to escape to UK where she claimed asylum. This was refused as was her fresh claim made in April 2007. She suffers from post- traumatic stress disorder and is still receiving counselling.

On February 28th 2008 Annociate was arrested. She was held in a police cell at Bridge Street, Sheffield for 3 days in solitary confinement before transfer to Yarl’s Wood. On March 5th she was removed to Burundi. Burundian Immigration did not accept her and she was returned to the UK. It was a terrible trauma for her and for the man who loves her.

A petition with over 1200 names, including Nick Clegg MP, was collected asking for Annociate to be given right to stay in the UK.

Annociate was allowed to return to Sheffield and began to rebuild her life, studying at Sheffield College, singing in the French choir at St Marie’s Cathedral, helping the charitable work of Assist, attending meetings of local Amnesty group, She and her boy friend, Aime, longed to get married and applied for permission through Annociate’s solicitor. Having convinced the Home Office that it was a genuine relationship and that he was able to support her she received a letter of permission. Sadly when she went to register she found she needed her ID card, which had been taken from her when she was arrested in March. Despite repeated requests this is still withheld.

On September 12th at 6.15am she was arrested again in Sheffield and taken to Dungavel IRC. Her solicitor has put in a fresh claim.

Her church, her friends and her college teachers are campaigning for her to be allowed to stay on compassionate grounds in view of the very real suffering she has endured and fears that she will be attacked in Burundi and may never be able to be reunited with Aime.

I beg you to allow Annociate to stay in UK and marry her fiancé. Everyone has the right to family life. It would be cruel and inhumane to separate two people who are committed to each other and have very little hope of being together ever again if Annociate is removed to Burundi on Thursday next.

Yours Sincerely,

Name:

Address:

City: Postcode:

Country: Date: Email:

Background information

In February 2008 Burundi was listed 5th on "The Index of State Weakness in the Developing World", published by the Brookings Institute and the Centre for Global Development. The FCO [Foreign & Commonwealth Office] country profile for Burundi states, "The human rights situation in Burundi remains poor, with widespread abuses committed by all parties, particularly in the rural areas surrounding the capital. Tens of thousands of people remain internally displaced. Killing of civilians, reprisal killings, torture, rape, theft, illegal and arbitrary detention, and forced labour have been reported. Rape and gang rape against women, girls and boys is on the increase. The judicial system has little capacity to act in timely and impartial manner, and impunity is pervasive … “ The USA, Country Report on Human Rights Practices Burundi 2007: The government's human rights record remained poor; despite improvements in some areas, government security forces continued to commit numerous serious human rights abuses. Members of the FDN, the police, and the National Intelligence Service (SNR) were responsible for killings, torture, and beatings of civilians and detainees (including suspected FNL supporters). There were isolated reports that security forces raped women and young girls. Impunity and harsh, life-threatening prison and detention remained problems. The government restricted freedom of assembly and association. The government did not tolerate direct criticism of the president and journalists continued to exercise self-censorship. Security forces continued to harass members of the opposition. Societal violence and discrimination against women and trafficking in persons remained problems. Despite the cease-fire and the general lack of hostilities between the government and the FNL, abuses by the FNL against civilians continued and occurred primarily in FNL traditional strongholds of Bujumbura Rural, and the northern provinces of Bubanza, Cibitike, Muramvya, and Kayanza. These abuses included killings, kidnappings, rapes, theft, extortion, the forcible recruitment of children as soldiers, and the use of forced labor.

2. Do you or one of your friends live in easy travelling distance of Dungavel Detention Centre? If so, please consider visiting Annociate.

3. Tell all your friends.

4. Add a message of support to this blog.